Baymont by Wyndham Helena

The room and hallways were filthy. There was hair on the bed, under the sheets, in the bathroom, and even in the ice bucket. The chair arms were black with grime, the floor by the bed was dirty, and something like snot or boogers had been wiped on the nightstand. The pool area looked rusty and like it was falling apart. The shower took ages to get warm, the lamp kept flashing, and the Wi-Fi didn’t work. We were told the hot tub and pool were accessible when I called to book, but the hot tub was ice cold. At the desk, a man said it had just been filled and needed a few hours to heat. Several hours later it was still cold, and another guest said he’d been waiting nine days for it to heat up. When I checked in, the woman at the desk was extremely rude and unprofessional. Staff didn’t seem to know what was going on when asked about pool towels. I could see biscuits in a plastic container behind the desk. The reviews had led me to expect a family-friendly stay, and this was a huge disappointment. I’ll never come back. This place is gross, the rooms are disgusting, and they lied to me about the hot tub. No wonder bookings are nonrefundable.

The pool was fun and breakfast was good, but I expected more for the price. The beds seemed decent, though my family and I were itchy afterward, and I found signs of bedbug bites on my three-year-old. The carpets badly needed attention, and there was hair throughout the bathroom. We kept having to rub dirt off our feet after getting into bed. A group of high schoolers started partying next door at 2:45 a.m. The slamming doors, laughter, and talking kept me awake even with a noise machine on. My husband went to complain after an hour, but no one was at the desk. He called a number, and they finally quieted down about 20 minutes later.

For the price, I think this is the best lodging value in Helena. The rooms are large, with wide, well-lit hallways, and the pool and hot tub are usually open. Breakfast has biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs, and other things. My last room wasn’t as clean as usual, and the vents around the pool were packed with dust. The pool area and rooms need a deep clean, including the walls. Keep this place the value it’s been.

The staff were friendly, and our room was quiet and clean. The rate was reasonable, it’s dog friendly, and I’d stay again. The mattress was lumpy, though. It’s just off the interstate, but the entrance can be tight when there’s snow on the ground. There’s only one entrance and exit, and turning around with a trailer would be very difficult. I wouldn’t recommend bringing one.